This touching episode would be the first of several “Little House” Christmas episodes that would air over the nine-year run.

It’s the first Christmas for the Ingalls family in their new home at Plum Creek. Weighing on the young ‘uns minds are what gifts to buy Ma and Pa and how to pay for those gifts. The same goes for Ma and Pa themselves.

During a visit to Oleson’s store, it is discovered what is everyone’s heart’s desire: Caroline admires a stove, to which both Charles and Laura notice, both Mary and Caroline fondle some fabric, both thinking it would make a great shirt for Charles and little Carrie is fascinated with a star.

Everyone sets out in their own ways to earn the money so they can buy what they want. Mr. Oleson mentions to Charles that he has a customer who needs new wheels for his wagon. Charles takes on the task of fixing the wheels to earn some quick cash.

Mary is ecstatic when she gains an opportunity to help the town seamstress out. It gives her the chance to also make the shirt she wants to make for Pa.

Caroline is selling more eggs than usual to Olsen’s Mercantile in the hopes of making the same shirt for Pa.

Laura is left with the dilemma of wanting to buy her mother the same stove Pa is intending to buy with his money from the wheels. She unselfishly barters her pony Bunny, a pony Nellie Oleson has had her eyes on for a while, in exchange for the stove.

Meanwhile Carrie finds a penny and goes with her sisters to Oleson’s and buys the star for the Christmas tree. Although the star normally goes for five cents, good ol’ Mr. Oleson sells it to Carrie for her penny.

Next Charles goes back to Oleson’s to buy the stove for Caroline only to learn that it’s been sold.

The day before Christmas Mr. Oleson delivers a large box to the Ingalls’ home and says it’s for Caroline. Of course Charles thinks that Mr. Oleson came through for him and managed to get another stove.

Christmas morning is filled with surprise. Charles opens his gift from Mary to discover a shirt she has been tirelessly making. Caroline successfully hides her look of shock/disappointment at the very gift she was going to present her husband with. Being the kind of mother she is, she compliments Mary’s handiwork and discreetly hides her gift under the tree skirt.

Laura opens her gift to discover a saddle Charles has spent weeks making for her pony Bunny. The very Bunny she has bartered.

Caroline opens her box and is beside herself to find the stove. Charles looks pleased with himself, until Caroline opens the card to discover the stove is from Laura.

As Mr. Oleson and Nellie arrive to collect Bunny, the rest of the family learn how Laura was able to afford the stove.

As Carrie excitedly opens her gift of the star and Charles helps her place it on top of the tree, the true meaning of Christmas is felt all around.